MAFFEI: Upstart Pac-12 Network available in most of county

The Pac-12 Network, which launched Wednesday night, has accomplished what the Padres have so far failed to do ---- sign working agreements with both Time Warner and Cox, Southern California's two cable giants.

For college football fans, that means every Pac-12 football game and men's basketball game will be available on TV.

For San Diego State fans, the Pac-12 Network will be the destination for the season-opening football game Sept. 1 at Washington. That will be the network's first prime time contest, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.

The first UCLA game on the new network is Sept. 15 against Houston. The first USC game is Sept. 22 against California.

Last year, 90 Pac-12 men's basketball games weren't on TV. This season, the Pac-12 Network will carry 135 men's basketball games. Women's basketball and women's volleyball, among other sports, will get star treatment.

"If you watched the Olympics, nine members of the USA women's soccer team played at our schools," Stevenson said. "There were 12 women's water polo players from Pac-12 schools. And decathlon champion Ashton Eaton competed at Oregon.

"So we're working on programming the Olympic sports."

More network TV

As it stands now, six of San Diego State's 12 football games will be on TV ---- Sept. 1 at Washington (Pac-12), Sept. 8 vs. Army (NBCSN), Oct. 6 vs. Hawaii (CBSSN), Oct. 20 at Nevada (CBSSN), Nov. 3 at Boise State (CBSSN) and Nov. 19 vs. Air Force (NBCSN). Time Warner is negotiating with the Aztecs to carry all football and basketball games not currently scheduled for TV.

Cox has joined Time Warner and is now showing the Big Ten Network. Look for it on Channel 313 on digital basic.

KUSI, Channel 9/51 in San Diego, will pick up SEC football games in the fall, generally showing the early 9 or 9:30 a.m. contest. The first game is Sept. 1 ---- Buffalo at Georgia.

High school football kicks off Aug. 24 in the CIF Southern Section. Fox Sports West has West Covina-Covina at 7:30 that night.

CIF San Diego Section commissioner Jerry Schniepp said there is a deal in place with Time Warner to show high school football in San Diego. He's hoping for an Oct. 1 launch. Time Warner has scheduled two games so far ---- the Oct. 12 La Costa Canyon vs. Carlsbad game and the Nov. 2 La Costa Canyon vs. Torrey Pines game.

Olympic recap

The London Olympics on NBC were the most watched Games in history with 219.4 million people watching at least some action.

The closing ceremony averaged 31.0 million viewers.

NBC averaged 31.1 million viewers over the 17 nights in prime time with a 17 rating and a 30 share of the audience.

Salt Lake City, with a 25.0 rating and a 45 audience share, finished as the No. 1-rated U.S. market. San Diego tied for eighth with West Palm Beach at 20.8 and 37. Los Angeles was 23rd at 18.3 and 35.

Local note

Saturday's Cowboys-Chargers game is blacked out. Channel 8 in San Diego will have a replay of the game at 9:30 Saturday night and 11:35 p.m. Sunday. Channel 2 in Los Angeles has a replay at 11:35 p.m. Saturday. The game will be shown live in Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Yuma and Hawaii.

"Playing with a Purpose," a 60-minute special on the charitable commitments of players on the PGA Tour, airs at 11 a.m. Saturday on CBS.

ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to carry all 32 games from the Little League World Series, including the U.S. and International championships on Aug. 25 and the title game on Aug. 26. Karl Ravech, Gary Thorne, Nomar Garciaparra, Terry Francona, Orel Hershiser, Jenn Brown and Chris McKendry will work the games.

Olympic gold medal softball player Michele Brown joins Ernie Johnson and John Smoltz on TBS for Sunday's 10:30 a.m. game between the Dodgers and Braves.

The NBC Sports Network has live coverage of the seven-day USA Pro Challenge cycling event from Colorado that starts in Durango and ends in Denver. Coverage starts at 1 p.m. Monday.